Exploring the Lived Experiences of Informal Horticulture Market Traders in the Era of Climate Change: A Qualitative Study of Masala Market, Ndola, Zambia

Abstract

Background: Climate change is increasingly affecting livelihoods and food systems globally, particularly among vulnerable populations within the informal economy. While existing climate change research has largely concentrated on agricultural production and rural farming communities, limited scholarly attention has been directed toward informal horticulture traders operating within urban food systems despite their critical contribution to food distribution and household economies.
Aim: To explore the lived experiences and adaptive responses of informal horticulture traders to climate variability and its effects on their livelihoods in Zambia.
Methods: The study employed a qualitative research approach with phenomenological research design. Purposive and Snowball non-random sampling methods were used to recruit 27 participants who were active informal horticulture traders and key stakeholders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews involving informal horticulture traders and relevant stakeholders at Masala Market in Ndola District. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings: The findings reveal that traders experience climate variability through unpredictable rainfall patterns, extreme temperatures, prolonged dry spells, and seasonal market disruptions that affect the supply, quality, preservation, and pricing of horticultural commodities. These climate-related disruptions negatively influenced traders’ livelihoods by reducing daily income, increasing food insecurity, weakening business sustainability, and limiting their ability to meet essential household obligations such as rent, school fees, and healthcare costs. The study further established that traders employed multiple adaptation strategies, including income diversification, modification of trading practices, reliance on social support networks, participation in informal savings groups, and flexible sourcing of produce. However, the effectiveness of these coping mechanisms was constrained by limited financial capital, inadequate market infrastructure, weak institutional support systems, and broader socio-economic inequalities.